What Are Mitsubishi’s Heavy Wheeled Recovery Vehicles?

Saving Wheeled Armored Vehicles

While “speed” is the key for a successful ground operation in modern warfare, such rapid advances require mobile armored units equipped with tanks and other vehicles.

However, these armored vehicles, though quite robust on their own, are not immune from damage or mechanical breakdowns which may render them immobile on the battlefield.

Even tanks, with their high off-road capabilities, face the risk of getting stuck in muddy terrain should the ground conditions prevail.

To address such issues, rescue vehicles often known as tank recovery vehicles are typically deployed alongside the armored units.

In the case of wheeled vehicles (with tires) being immobilized, the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) will send a specialized truck called the Heavy Wheeled Recovery Vehicle (HWRV).

• General Overview
  

As Japan’s road network expanded throughout the 1970s and 80s, JGSDF increased their fleet of wheeled combat vehicles to capitalize on such development. To support the recovery and maintenance of these vehicles, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was tasked with developing the HWRV, which began deployment in 2002.

Resembling a large tow truck in appearance, the HWRV features an 8-wheel drive (8WD) system, and is equipped with a winch as well as a crane on its rear-side. This enables the truck to recover immobilized wheeled vehicles and transport replacement parts such as engines.

Although the HWRV is less capable than a tank recovery vehicle in terms of towing and lifting capacity, its design is sufficient in supporting the relatively lighter wheeled vehicles which it was originally intended for.

In essence, tank recovery vehicles are assigned to tanks, while HWRVs are designed to recover wheeled vehicles, ensuring an appropriate division of roles based on their respective capacities.

Additionally, the HWRV is more faster than most tank recovery vehicles as they can speed on paved public roads, whereas tracked vehicles are legally restricted from traveling on such highways.

As the number of wheeled vehicles within the JGSDF continues to grow, the demand for support vehicles like the HWRV is bound to increase as well.

Not Enough For The MCVs

Although produced as a rescue vehicle, the HWRV’s chassis has been repurposed for other vehicles, including the Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile or the Type 03 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile.

By reusing the same design, JGSDF have reduced development and production costs, making the HWRV less expensive than tank recovery vehicles.

A HWRV towing an armored vehicle (photo: JGSDF)

Nonetheless, while the HWRV is capable of recovering wheeled vehicles, it was designed with helping out vehicles like the Type 96 Wheeled Armored Personnel Carriers.

Therefore, it is somewhat insufficient in handling heavy armored equipments, most notably the Type 16 Maneuver Combat Vehicle which is basically a wheeled tank.

To address this limitation, an upgraded version called the Heavy Wheeled Recovery Vehicle Kai, has been developed with enhanced towing and lifting capabilities.

With the increasing deployment of the Type 16 MCVs, the arrival of this improved recovery vehicle is considered indispensable for most units.